New London man indicted on federal firearms charges

A federal grand jury has indicted New London resident Maurice L. Milligan for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Milligan, 34, was arrested by New London Police in April in connection with a shooting in the area of Ocean Avenue and Evergreen Street. Officers found several 9mm shell casings at the scene.

A review of surveillance video from the Sam's convenience store showed Milligan and an unknown male exchanging some words before the report of shots fired, according to an incident report. Police said Milligan was seen walking in the backyard of 54 Sherman St. with an object in his hands a few seconds after the shooting, the incident report said.

A few days later, a patrolman stopped Milligan and a friend in a black Nissan on Broad Street. Milligan was wearing a bulletproof vest and there was a Glock 9mm handgun underneath the front driver's seat.

The federal grand jury found this week that Milligan, a previously convicted felon, was in possession of a loaded semi-automatic pistol with an obliterated serial number. He had been previously been convicted in Queens County, N.Y., for third-degree criminal possession of a loaded firearm and second-degree robbery. Milligan also has been convicted in recent years of possession of less than 4 ounces of marijuana, breach of peace and interfering with an officer.

Milligan is being held at the Corrigan-Radgowski Correctional Institution in lieu of $210,000 bond and has been ordered detained by federal authorities.

The case remains under investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, New London Police Department and the Office of the State's Attorney for the Judicial District of New London. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John H. Durham.